Compare towns
Chester vs Erving vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Erving has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.5%).
Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Chester | Erving | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
1,703Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Gateway | Erving | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.